Cuéllar occupies a recognizable position on the map of the province of Segovia due to its size, its territorial extension and the historical continuity of its urban area. The city is located on an elevation of land which has conditioned its development since medieval times, when the defense and control of territory were central elements for the organization of cities in the interior of the peninsula. Even today, urban planning reflects this original function.
The municipality is not responding to recent growth or a transformation linked exclusively to tourism. Its structure was formed gradually over several centuries, with planning adapted to the needs of each moment. The streets, squares and buildings maintain a layout that allows us to recognize the logic of a historic city which was more than a residential core: it was an administrative, defensive and economic space.
This historical process was marked by the coexistence of different communities. In the Middle Ages, Cuéllar was home to a Christian, Jewish and Muslim population, a common reality in certain regions of Castile but not always preserved in such a visible way. The defensive system, religious buildings and certain urban spaces preserve the trace of this coexistence, which is part of the historical history of the municipality.
Medieval heritage and traces of coexistence
Cuéllar is declared a Historic and Artistic Site due to the conservation of its heritage and the coherence of its urban structure. One of the characteristics that best defines the city is its character as a walled city. The large defensive wall has organized the internal life of the city for centuries and conditioned its development. From this system the historic gates such as those of San Basilio, San Martín and San Andrés are preserved, as well as the arches integrated into the urban layout, notably those of Santiago and the Jewish quarter.
The castle is located in the highest area of the urban center and is the main architectural reference of the complex. Its current configuration responds to different phases of construction, which explains the combination of Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance elements, the latter being predominant. Over time, the fortress went from a defensive function to that of a lordly residence, without losing its central role within the city.
The religious heritage completes the historical reading of the commune. Among the preserved temples, the Church of San Martín stands out, which maintains a remarkable state of conservation and currently houses the Mudéjar Art Interpretation Center. To this building are added the churches of San Andrés and that of San Esteban, which form a complex with its medieval necropolis, integrated into the Medieval Archaeological Park of San Esteban. These spaces reflect the importance of religious architecture in urban organization.
The coexistence of the three medieval cultures has left recognizable remains in different parts of the city. The Jewish Quarter, Morería Street and the Muslim Necropolis of Santa Clara allow us to identify areas linked to Jewish and Muslim communities. Outside the fortified enclosure, after crossing the Puerta de San Basilio, is the convent of the same name, which completes the historical ensemble outside the walls and reinforces the territorial reading of the medieval town.
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